ALBAWABA - According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), children in Sudan account for around 51% of those affected, making the war-torn country one of the world's greatest child displacement disasters.
As of mid-June 2024, more than 8.6 million people have been forcefully displaced in Sudan, with 1.9 million fleeing to Chad, the Central African Republic (CAR), Egypt, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda.
Also of concern is the fact that children face a wide range of protection risks at every stage of their displacement – before, during, and after their flight, Sudan Tribune reported.
The UNHCR reported significant violations of children's rights, restricted access to safety, family separation, gender-based violence, psychological distress, immigration detention, trafficking, and limited access to child protection services, especially along the journey to safety.
Displaced parents, elder siblings, and families are facing a variety of protection hazards that jeopardize their children's well-being, including a lack of access to protection and essential services, as well as abuse, harassment, and exploitation.
There are indications of an increase in child trafficking in Chad, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, notably among youth aged 19 to 27 from Khartoum, West and Central Darfur, and Blue and White Nile states.
Many of these children have reportedly experienced violence, such as bombings, looting, and occupying their homes, hospitals, playgrounds, and schools.
Since the beginning of the Sudan crisis and as of June 27, 2024, UNHCR Egypt has granted registration appointments to 631,424 people forced to flee Sudan, of whom 325,140 (51%) have been properly registered.
